Review over Nemesis: The Last Days of the American Republic by Chalmers Johnson Johnson in his new book explains the future of America and threats that will result in destruction of American empire. Johnson makes his case citing ancient Rome to show how imperialism and militarism undermined the Republic. The momentous point is that the United States must do to avoid the appointment with Nemesis. But at first, Johnson discusses how America became an imperial tyranny.
He begins with the fact that one of the most important purposes of founders was preventing from recurrence of the tyranny that they had tolerated under Britain’s kingdom. They tried to prevent tyrannies of all powers. In order to this purpose, the congress was given the parliamentary power; it made final decision to go to war and impeachment the president. After a century this form of distribution of power changed and the president became the fundamental power in the government.
In contrast to Americans’ ideal, from the founding of American republic to Eisenhower’s presidency the main concern of the government was war. Since 1941 United States engaged in many wars, as Vidal said between the end of the World War II and September 11, 2001, United States engaged in 201 oversea war and struggle. United States entered in some of these wars by choice such as World War I, Guam, Cuba and … And other wars which were not war of choice such as World War II, Cold War , Korean War , and… .
In modern age we can refer to “desk murderers” whom instructed remote control killing by bombarding of a country that lacks any forms of air defense or by firing of cruise missiles from a warship at sea into countries unable to respond such as Iraq, Sudan or Afghanistan. In fact there is enormous number of desk murderers in American executive branch or in high ranks of their army. The American soldiers are empowered to excessive use of force. For instance, they are authorized to use lethal force whenever they feel threatened.
United States ruled Afghanistan and Iraq through fear, torture and indefinite detention. American killing of people in Iraq was more crucial than in Afghanistan because Iraq was more populous and on the other hand, in order to finding Saddam Hussein, Americans attacked to underground bunkers and used many large bomb and killed lot of Iraqi civilians.
The consequences of this policy in the United States were systematic killing of unarmed civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq and creation of a global network of both known and secret prisons around the world. Americans attacks to elsewhere in purpose to capturing terrorists, creates a world of dread and peril. Unfortunately, United States remains the superpower in the world and has the world’s most powerful military without practical restraint. Particularly, after 11/sep the president authorized torture to show the world that the United States was a new Rome, it was a symbolic value.
Johnson argues about 20th century empires that rose and fell with parallels to present-day America. He refers to Brits, Soviets, Nazis, Japanese, and Ottomans to show the resemblance between them and America. He focuses on Rome Empire which was approaching the edge of a huge waterfall and about to plunge over it.
It seems that it is logical to compare American republic 230 years after the declaration of independence with ancient Rome and British Empire, because Rome and Britain are the "arch-types" defining where America stand and what America face. The point is that Rome made the wrong choice and perished while Britain chose more wisely and survived.
Rome's military success made it very rich and its leaders arrogant leading to what Johnson calls "the first case of what today we call imperial overstretch." It grew large and unwieldy becoming a state within a state like Pentagon today. It created a culture of militarism that turned into a culture of moral decay leading to the empire's decline and fall. In sum “Rome chose empire, lost its Republic and then everything”.
In fact, collapse of the Roman republic proved that imperialism and militarism can undermine the best defenses of a democracy. The experience of Rome –which was in the position of the present day united states- shows that how empire and militarism erode the foundations of a Republic.
Britain went the other way choosing democracy; enthusiast for the American empire makes the history of British Empire as an acceptable model for the United States. There are some similarities between Great Britain and United States, for example they have never been defeated and occupied by a foreign military power.
American democracy and way of life are now threatened because it now faces - an imperial presidency, erosion of checks and balances and separation of powers, and a culture of militarism, and it's now an uncontrollable state within the state. Now late in the game, America must choose one way or the other. United States can keep itself and lose its democracy because successful imperialism requires that a domestic republic change into a tyranny. It can't have both. As Johnson argues, United States must now choose whether to return to its founding roots or stay on its present path heading to imperial tyranny.
He begins with the fact that one of the most important purposes of founders was preventing from recurrence of the tyranny that they had tolerated under Britain’s kingdom. They tried to prevent tyrannies of all powers. In order to this purpose, the congress was given the parliamentary power; it made final decision to go to war and impeachment the president. After a century this form of distribution of power changed and the president became the fundamental power in the government.
In contrast to Americans’ ideal, from the founding of American republic to Eisenhower’s presidency the main concern of the government was war. Since 1941 United States engaged in many wars, as Vidal said between the end of the World War II and September 11, 2001, United States engaged in 201 oversea war and struggle. United States entered in some of these wars by choice such as World War I, Guam, Cuba and … And other wars which were not war of choice such as World War II, Cold War , Korean War , and… .
In modern age we can refer to “desk murderers” whom instructed remote control killing by bombarding of a country that lacks any forms of air defense or by firing of cruise missiles from a warship at sea into countries unable to respond such as Iraq, Sudan or Afghanistan. In fact there is enormous number of desk murderers in American executive branch or in high ranks of their army. The American soldiers are empowered to excessive use of force. For instance, they are authorized to use lethal force whenever they feel threatened.
United States ruled Afghanistan and Iraq through fear, torture and indefinite detention. American killing of people in Iraq was more crucial than in Afghanistan because Iraq was more populous and on the other hand, in order to finding Saddam Hussein, Americans attacked to underground bunkers and used many large bomb and killed lot of Iraqi civilians.
The consequences of this policy in the United States were systematic killing of unarmed civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq and creation of a global network of both known and secret prisons around the world. Americans attacks to elsewhere in purpose to capturing terrorists, creates a world of dread and peril. Unfortunately, United States remains the superpower in the world and has the world’s most powerful military without practical restraint. Particularly, after 11/sep the president authorized torture to show the world that the United States was a new Rome, it was a symbolic value.
Johnson argues about 20th century empires that rose and fell with parallels to present-day America. He refers to Brits, Soviets, Nazis, Japanese, and Ottomans to show the resemblance between them and America. He focuses on Rome Empire which was approaching the edge of a huge waterfall and about to plunge over it.
It seems that it is logical to compare American republic 230 years after the declaration of independence with ancient Rome and British Empire, because Rome and Britain are the "arch-types" defining where America stand and what America face. The point is that Rome made the wrong choice and perished while Britain chose more wisely and survived.
Rome's military success made it very rich and its leaders arrogant leading to what Johnson calls "the first case of what today we call imperial overstretch." It grew large and unwieldy becoming a state within a state like Pentagon today. It created a culture of militarism that turned into a culture of moral decay leading to the empire's decline and fall. In sum “Rome chose empire, lost its Republic and then everything”.
In fact, collapse of the Roman republic proved that imperialism and militarism can undermine the best defenses of a democracy. The experience of Rome –which was in the position of the present day united states- shows that how empire and militarism erode the foundations of a Republic.
Britain went the other way choosing democracy; enthusiast for the American empire makes the history of British Empire as an acceptable model for the United States. There are some similarities between Great Britain and United States, for example they have never been defeated and occupied by a foreign military power.
American democracy and way of life are now threatened because it now faces - an imperial presidency, erosion of checks and balances and separation of powers, and a culture of militarism, and it's now an uncontrollable state within the state. Now late in the game, America must choose one way or the other. United States can keep itself and lose its democracy because successful imperialism requires that a domestic republic change into a tyranny. It can't have both. As Johnson argues, United States must now choose whether to return to its founding roots or stay on its present path heading to imperial tyranny.
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